1. Haiti Earthquake [They should just rename the country "Job" already]2. FIFA World Cup [Spain finally stops being a bridesmaid]3. BP Oil Spill4. EU economic situation/bailouts [20 years after all the panic over German reunification, nobody's regretting it now that Deutschland's bailing them all out]5. North Korea's Year of Bitchiness [How many acts of war will they make in 2011?]6. Icelandic volcano giving Europe a taste of nuclear winter7. Chilean Miners [a boost to Chile's spirit after their own quake]8. WikiLeaks [The diplomatic batch has proven to be an epic misfire]9. US economy10. LeBron James [the fact that this egomaniac pushed other headlines off the front page is both hilarious and tragic--which means that it'll be considered Shakespearean by future sports historians]

Beginning on 14 April 2010, the eruption created an ash cloud that led to the closure of most of Europe's IFR airspace from 15 until 20 April 2010. Consequently, a very high proportion of flights within, to, and from Europe were cancelled, creating the highest level of air travel disruption since the Second World War.

The estimated cost of the disruptions was $200 million each day airports were closed.

European airports experienced a second round of major closings due to severe weather in December of this year.

Too bad I saw this so late, although, for me the top story was our continuing political gridlock -, but I doubt many people outside of our direct vicinity are even aware of this. Tomorrow we'll hit day 200 of negotiations to get a new government, only 8 days from the record, baby.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Acts passed in late March, 2010 without the support of a single Republican. The controversy of this partisan bill became a rallying cry during midterm elections and helped set the stage for a sweeping Republican victory in the House.

Some provisions, including end of denial of coverage to children based on preexisting conditions, and provisions to allow parents to cover their adult children (up to age 26) on their plans have already taken effect (plans were required to notify policy holders in writing as of the end of September that this enrollment opportunity was available).

The constitutionality of the state-based exchanges has already been challenged. In December, a federal judge in Virginia ruled against parts of the law.

The Dodd?Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was signed into law in July, 2010and includes
- creation of a Financial Stability Oversight Council charged with identifying and responding to systemic risks to the financial system.
-adds insurance companies and non-bank financial companies to organizations meeting the criteria for liquidation that can be liquidated through the FDIC.
-increases FDIC deposit insurance permanently to $250k.
-adds regulatory authority to the CFTC and SEC to oversee instruments such as credit default swaps
-creates a Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to regulate consumer financial products
-greater regulatory control over mortgage lending

7. North Korea

Uranium enrichment, launching deadly artillery barrages. Renewed interest in the U.S. role and Chinese roles in this 60 + year saga.

6. Chilean Miners rescue

Feel good story of the year. What would you do with your 15 minutes of fame?

"The government of Israel has invited them to visit Jerusalem's holy sites. They've been offered trips to Greece, the Dominican Republic and Disney World.

Edison Pena became a star of the New York Marathon, and got to sing a little Elvis on David Letterman's show. The whole group is being flown to Los Angeles for CNN's "Heroes" program. Then it's on to England to watch football club Manchester United play Arsenal, courtesy of Chilean winemaker Concha y Toro, one of Manchester's sponsors."

5. Europe's financial meltdown

Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, all deep in debt. Greece is forced to accept austerity measures as part of an EU-IMF bailout plan. The UK launches its own austerity plan.

4. U.S. midterm elections

Republicans regain the House and will lead redistricting efforts in many states, thin out the Democratic majority in the Senate. The Tea Party waxes as a political force. Obama on the ropes.

3. Wikileaks

One of the amazing stories of last ten years, including Iraq and Afghanistan war documents, leaked U.S. diplomatic cables and the bizarre and gripping tale of Assange and his ego.

2. World Cup

South Africa. Spain defeated the Netherlands 1?0 in Johannesburg. The vuvuzela horn heard round the world.

1. BP Oil Spill

April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 11 workers. The well's blowout preventer fails to engage and, for the next 5 months, as much as 40,000 barrels per day of oil and natural gas flow into the Gulf until a relief well is used to successfully cement the well on September 17.